hotcoffee
New Member
1 Thessalonians 1:Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, 8 so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. 9 Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. 10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. 11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.
In these verses, the Disciples are described as a mother and a father. Paul would have worked during the day, while sharing the gospel with anyone who would listen as well as meeting with the people of the church when they were off work hours. Paul was a tentmaker. Acts 18:3. so he would have gone about his day making and selling tents to support himself.
Then, according to that new commentary I found, Paul would have been acting like a father, dispensing hints on how to live a good life. He would have been a constant reminder not to worship the idols they had probably had around their whole lives. I'm pretty sure that would have been a full time job in itself. It's hard for people to give up what they've known their whole lives.
According to the commentary, Paul would have told them about the Kingdom of God.
God had called them to share in his *kingdom and *glory. The *Lord Jesus spoke a lot about the *kingdom of God. He taught that the *kingdom of God had come near. And that was why people should *repent of their *sins (Matthew 3:2). Those who *repented of *sins became part of God’s *kingdom. They received the new life that God gives. This life is one over which God rules.
He taught that the *kingdom of God had come because he threw out *demons (Matthew 12:28). In the *Lord Jesus, the *kingdom of God came in power. He showed this by all that he did as he defeated the devil.
He also taught that the *kingdom of God was still to come (Mark 9:1). We do not see God ruling in power over all the world. But when Jesus comes again, he will bring in the full rule of God on earth. The *kingdom of God will come and God will rule the world.
He taught that the *kingdom of God is inside you (Luke 17:21). Where God is the *Lord, there is his *kingdom. All who believe in the *Lord Jesus have this *kingdom in them.
Paul here is thinking about the *kingdom that is still to come. He looks beyond the time when Jesus will come. The *kingdom of God will be the home of those who know God. That *kingdom will never end. It will be full of the *glory of God. And those who believe will live in that wonderful place.
He taught that the *kingdom of God had come because he threw out *demons (Matthew 12:28). In the *Lord Jesus, the *kingdom of God came in power. He showed this by all that he did as he defeated the devil.
He also taught that the *kingdom of God was still to come (Mark 9:1). We do not see God ruling in power over all the world. But when Jesus comes again, he will bring in the full rule of God on earth. The *kingdom of God will come and God will rule the world.
He taught that the *kingdom of God is inside you (Luke 17:21). Where God is the *Lord, there is his *kingdom. All who believe in the *Lord Jesus have this *kingdom in them.
Paul here is thinking about the *kingdom that is still to come. He looks beyond the time when Jesus will come. The *kingdom of God will be the home of those who know God. That *kingdom will never end. It will be full of the *glory of God. And those who believe will live in that wonderful place.
